Depression

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities.

Depression is feeling as though there is something amiss and you can never figure out what it is.

People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions.

Conditions that can get worse due to depression include:

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Cardiac disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Obesity

It’s important to realise that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression.

Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.

Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling “blue.”

Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect your mood, and others affect your body. Symptoms may also be ongoing, or come and go.

People may experience symptoms related to their:

• mood, such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness
• emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad, hopeless
• behaviour, such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favourite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities, withdrawing from social engagements
• sexual interest, such as reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
• cognitive abilities, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during conversations
• sleep patterns, such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night, waking early
• physical well-being, such as fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems, decreased energy, changes in appetite, weight changes, aches, increased cramps

There are several possible causes of depression. They can range from biological to circumstantial.

Common causes include:

• Family history: You’re at a higher risk for developing depression if you have a family history of depression or another mood disorder.
• Early childhood trauma: Some events affect the way your body reacts to fear and stressful situations.
• Medical conditions: Certain conditions may put you at higher risk, such as chronic illness, insomnia or chronic pain.
• Drug use: A history of drug or alcohol misuse can affect your risk.

In addition to these causes, other risk factors for depression include:

• low self-esteem/self confidence or being self-critical
• personal history of mental illness
• certain medications
• stressful events, such as loss of a loved one, economic problems, or a divorce.

Depression can be linked to other health problems, your healthcare provider may also conduct a physical examination and order blood tests. Sometimes thyroid problems or a vitamin D deficiency can trigger symptoms of depression.

There isn’t a single test to diagnose depression. But your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and a psychological evaluation. However, in many cases, healthcare providers are unable to determine what’s causing depression.

Don’t ignore symptoms of depression. If your mood doesn’t improve or gets worse, seek medical help. Depression is a serious mental health illness with the potential for complications.

If left untreated, complications can include:

• weight gain or loss
• physical pain
• substance use problems
• panic attacks
• relationship problems
• social isolation
• thoughts of suicide
• self- harm

Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your healthcare provider about possible options.

You may successfully manage symptoms with one form of treatment, or you may find that a combination of treatments works best.

It’s common to combine medical treatments and lifestyle therapies, including the following:

Medications

Your healthcare provider may prescribe antidepressant, antianxiety or antipsychotic medications.

Psychotherapy

Speaking with a therapist can help you learn skills to cope with negative feelings. You may also benefit from family or group therapy sessions.

Light therapy

Exposure to doses of white light can help regulate your mood and improve symptoms of depression.

Alternative therapies

Ask your healthcare provider about meditation. Some herbal supplements are also used to treat depression.

Talk with your healthcare provider before taking a supplement or combining a supplement with prescription medication because some supplements can react with certain medications. Some supplements may also worsen depression or reduce the effectiveness of medication.

Exercise

Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity 3 to 5 days a week. Exercise can increase your body’s production hormones that improve your mood.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

Drinking and misusing drugs may make you feel better for a little bit. But in the long run, these substances can make depression and anxiety symptoms worse.

Learn how to say no

Feeling overwhelmed can worsen anxiety and depression symptoms. Setting boundaries in your professional and personal life can help you feel better.

Take care of yourself

You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking care of yourself. This includes getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, avoiding negative people, and participating in enjoyable activities.

Sometimes depression doesn’t respond to medication. Your healthcare provider may recommend other treatment options if your symptoms don’t improve.